Tack-driver.



D. A. SAWYERSf TACK DRIVER. I APBLIOATION Hum JAN; 28,1908.

Patentd Nov. 24, 1908-.

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' D. A. SAWYBRS.

TACK DRIVER 7 APPLICATION nun JAN.28,1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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1). A. SAWYERS; TAGK DRIVER.

' APPLICATION FILED J'AN.28,1908.

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To all whom it may concern;

DAVID ALLEN SAWYERS, OF UNIONVILLE, IOWA.

TACK-DRIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed January 28, 1908. Serial No. 413,092.

Be it known that I, DAvn) ALLEN SAW- YERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a residentof Unionville, in the county ofAppanoose and Stateof Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Tack-Driver, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to mechanism for driving tacks, nails andthe like,my more particular object being to produce atack driver provided with animproved form of magazine for holding the tacks, and further providedwith means under control of a trigger and a lever actuated directly bythe operator for discharging the tacks one at a time and driving them asdischarged.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tack driver complete, one of theside plates being broken away for the purpose of showing the trigger andits associated parts, this view showing the muzzle as pointingdownwardly, thus being in the position it occupies when in action; Fig.2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing therevolving magazine for holding the tacks, and also showing the hammerused for driving the tacks and the various mechanisms associated withthe hammer for controlling it; Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 33 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing a part of themechanism used for retracting the trigger and for manipulating thehammer; Fig. 4is a detail showing the member which I designate as adislodger and used for dislodging the tacks from the magazine Fig. 5 isa section through the nozzle of the tack driver, this view showing theplunger used fordriving the tacks, the spring for propelling theplunger, and further showing part ofthe means used for moving theplunger into and out of position after each tack is driven, the plungeras here shown being in the proper position to drive a tack; Fig. 6 is asection similar to Fig. 5 but showing the plunger. as removed from theposition it occupies in driving a tack, the removal being for thepurpose of allowing another tack to drop down into the nozzle and readyto be driven; Fig. 7- isa section upon the line 77 'ofFig. 5, looking inthe slide is afterward allowed to mal position. Y

direction of the arrow and showing the cylinder containing the magazineand various other parts; Fig. 8 is a section through the cylinder uponthe line 88 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow and showingthe dislodger occupying its outermost position as if ready to engage atack; Fig. 9 isa section upon the line 99 of Fig. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrow, and showing the magazine or tack wheel as loadedwith tacks, one of which is about to be dislodged; Fig. 10 is anenlarged plan View, parts being in section on the line 101O of Fig. 5,of the magazine or tack wheel, together with the means for actuating itstep by step and holding it firmly in position after each step; Fig. 11is a detail, a part being in section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 5, of aslotted'plate employed in the cylinder and disposed immediately adjacentto the magazine, this plate being provided with a slot for permittinglateral movement of the plunger and its accompanying parts; Fig. 12 isan enlarged detail view exhibiting the edge of the magazine, and alsoshowing its accompanying parts; Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentarysection, on the line 13--13 of Fig. 1, through the cylinder, plunger andthe nozzle; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section upon the line 14-14 of Fig.1, showing particularly the mounting of the hand lever used for turningthe magazine and for actuating the plunger in its movement lateral toits axis; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section through the nozzle and itsaccompanying parts, showing the plunger extended to its limit as indriving a tack; Fig. 16 is a cross section upon the line 16 16 of Fig.5, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the plunger cagecarrying the spring plunger and adapted to move in a lateral directionwithin the chute; Fig.1? is a fragmentary detail showing how the triggeroperates the slide, and also showing the safety mechanism for preventingthe sudden stoppage of the slide in its movement toward the plunger, yetallowlng-the slide to be partially retracted and held by the detent whenin normal position of inactivity; and Fig. 18 is a fragmentary elevationshowing the trigger as drawn back to its full limit and showing theslide occupying a corresponding position, the detent now guarding thenotch of the slide so as to prevent the detent from engaging this notchwhen the resume its norlongitudinal cylindrical rod.

A cylinder 19 is secured rigidly in position and is provided withsubstantially cylindrical heads 20, 21 secured rigidly to the cylinderin order to prevent the entrance of dust and to prevent disarrangementof the parts hereinafter described and contained within the cylinder. Arib 22 is bent into substantially L shape and a portion of this ribextends through a slot 23 in the cylinder. This rib is provided with athickened portion 2i which is connected with plates 25 by aid of a bolt26. A box 27 is disposed opposite a bar 28 and disposed intermediatethese two members are a pair of jaws 29 adapted to have a slight playtoward and from each other. These jaws are together so shaped as to forma nozzle 30 having a substantially conical outlet 31 through which thetacks are to be passed as hereinafter described.

A pair of leaf springs 32 are connected one with each of the jaws 29which are of -roper conformity for this purpose, as will lie understoodfrom Fig. 13. These leaf springs extend upwardly and tend to presstoward each other. The jaws 29 extend into the cylinder head 20 and areprovided with flanges 33 which project in opposite directions so as toprevent the removal of the jaws. Lugs 34 are disposed adjacent to theflanges 33 and serve to prevent accidental dislodgment of these flangesand consequently of the jaws 29.

Two plates 35, made substantially alike, are so spaced apart that aplunger 36 and certain accompanying parts are placed between them. Aspiral spring 37 encircles the plunger 36 which 'has the form of a Twoflat bars 38 are disposed intermediate :the plates 35 (see Fig. 16) andplaced upon-opposite sides of the spiral spring 37. Mounted upon theplunger 36 is a set collar 39 which may be adjusted relatively to theplunger so as to regulate the tension of the spring 37. These bars .38are connected together at their tops by ;a fastening 39 which encirclesthe plunger 36, and are connected at their bottoms by a fastening 49which serves :as a bearing through which the plunger 36 is adapted toplay. The fastenings 39, 40 are each substantia-lly rectangular inoutline. The bars 38 together with the fastenings 39, 40 at the endsthereof and the spiral spring 37 disposed intermediate the bars 38,together constitute :a cage which is slidable, in a lateral direction,in relation to the plates The box 27 is provided with an enlargedportion 41 (see Fig. 5). This enlarged portion has a large compartmentl2 merging into .a smaller compartment 43. Disposed within thecompartment42 and secured upon one of the bars 38 is a loop 44. An arm4-5 is mounted rigidly upon a rocking shaft 46 and is provided with aportion 44 extending through the loop 44:. A leaf spring 47 arm 45 bythe bar 38, and this bar, together with its accompanying partsconstituting the cage, is drawn to the right according to this figure.When, however, the arm 45 is allowed to resume its normal position, theleaf spring 47, in its efiort to move away from the arm 45, presses thecage toward the left according to Fig. This is because the spring -l7 intending to move away from the arm 45 after compression forces the arm 45and the cage to the left of it into such positions that the parts are asnearly as possible in equilibrium, which necessarily moves both the cageand the arm l5 to the left.

An arm 48, integral with the arm 45, ex tends upwardly from the rockingshaft -16 and is bent so as to pass through a slot 40 in one of theplates This arm 48 is adapted to be rocked either by hand or power; inthe present instance I prefer to operate it by hand. A handle 49,somewhat similar to the handle of a revolver is provided for the purposeof manipulating the entire device. A lug 50 (see Figs. .5, (3)constituting a portion of the box 41 supports a plate 51, and restingupon this plate is another plate 52 of slightly smaller diameter.Resting upon :the plate is a plate 53 having a diameter substantiallyequal to that of the plate 51. A magazine Fl is made substantially inthe form of a ring (see Fig. 10) provided with teeth 55 extendingradially inward and separated by spaces ms. The teeth rest upon theouter edge of the plate 51, while the plate 53 prevents the magazinefrom moving away from the plate 51, .thus holding the magazine steadilyin position and enabling it to turn after the manner of a cylinder in arevolver.

The fastening 39 is provided with flanges 39, as will be understood fromFig. 10. These flanges project into a slot 52" in the plate 52, thusenabling the fastening 39 to serve as a slide which may he moved towardthe right and left. according to Fig. 10. The plate 51 is provided witha slot 57 in. order to permit the arm 4-8 to extend tlnough it. A disk58 (see Fig. 8) is provided with an opening to accommodate the variousmoving parts. A rib 59 is disposed directly across one end of thecylinder 19 and is made in halves connected together by bolts 60, aswill be understood from Fig. 6. his rib is provided with a slot 61 andis secured to the cover 21 which is provided with a similar slot 62.These two slots are practically continuations of each other and may beconsidered as a single slot through which lOO extends the plunger 36, aswill be understood from Fig. 6.

A screw 63 extends through the plates 51, 52 and 53, and into theportion 50 of the box 41, so as to hold the plates firmly thereupon. Theplate 53'is provided with a slot 64 which registers with the slot 62, aswill be understood from Fig. 14.

A slide 65 is mounted upon the fastening 39 and is engaged by theplunger 36 so that when the plunger moves in a direction lateral to itsaxis, it carries with it the slide 65. This slide is provided with ahook 66 and with a guiding portion 67, the hook and guiding portionbeing separated by a slot 68 (see Fig. 4). The slide 65, hook 66 andguiding portion67 together constitute what I call the dislodger, itspurpose being to disengage the tacks or nails oneat a time from themagazine .in order that they may glide downwardly into position to bedriven. The manner in which the slide 65 is fitted upon the plunger 36may be understood from Fig. 13.

The rib 28 is provided with a beveled surface 28 (see Fig. 6) to guidethe tacks or nails as they drop from the magazine. Handle walls areshown at 70 and aid in inclosing various working parts. The rib 22 isprovided with a thickened portion 71, and this is connected with thehandle walls 70 by a bolt 72. The bolts 72, 26 are easily removed forthe purpose of aiding access to the parts. H i i A screw 73 (Figs. 9 and10) is inserted through the plates 51,52, 53, and assists the screw 63in holding these plates firmly together. The plate 58 is provided with aslot 76 merging into the opening 75 as will be understood from Fig. 8.The slot 76 is to accommodate the slide 65 and its accompanying parts. Aspring pawl 77 is mounted upon the plate 52 (see Fig. 10) and is adaptedto engage successively the teeth 55 so as to prevent retrogression ofthe magazine 54. The plate 52 is provided with an opening 78 and restingloosely within this opening is a slide 79. A leaf spring 80 is mountedupon this slide and presses against the plate 52. Theslide 79 isprovided with a pawl '82 integral with it, and this pawl successivelyengages the teeth 55 for the purpose of turning the magazine 54 step bystep. The slide 79 is provided with a slot 81 for accommodating the arm48. As the arm 48 is worked by hand or otherwise, the slide 79 isreciprocated, the result being that the pawl 82 engaging the teeth 55,one at a time, turns the magazine step by step, the spring pawl 77meanwhile clicking into proper position after each tooth has passed it.

A rib 83 is connected rigidly with the stationary cylinder 19 and isseparated from the rib 25 by a space 84. A plate 85 (see Fig. 3) isprovided with fiat'guide-rods 86 integral therewith and extendingtherefrom,

and intermediate these guide-rods is a spiral spring 87, into whichextends a cylindrical rod '88, this rod being mounted upon the plate 85.A spacing sleeve 89 is disposed intermediate the handle walls 70 andencircles the middle portion of a bolt 90, which aids in holding thesewalls together.

Housings 91, provided with apertures 92, are mounted upon the handlewalls 70, and mounted within these housings is a slide 93, which isprovided with a slot 94 and with a tooth 95 (see Figs. 2 and 3). Ahammer 96 is provided with a leaf spring 97, and en gaging this leafspring is a lug 98, mounted upon a pivot pin 99. An arm 100 is mountedupon the hammer 96 by aid of a pivot pin 101 and is provided with aspring 102, which engages a rocking sleeve 102 on the pivot pin 99. Whenthe arm 100 is pressed toward the left (according to Fig. 2) by theaction of the spring 104, it tends to turn both the sleeve 102 and thehammer 96 upon the pin 99 as a center. Owing, however, to the action ofthe springs 102 and 97 the hammer strikes a so-called spring blow.

The rocking sleeve 102 is provided with a tooth 103 disposed partiallywithin the path of travel of the tooth 95. A spiral spring 104 isdisposed partially within the slot 94, so as not to interfere withmovements of the slide 93. Extending into the spiral spring 104 is acylindrical guide rod 105 which engages the arm 100. The rod 105 extendsalso into a guiding sleeve 106 provided with a cap 107. This cap isprovided with a central perforation threaded internally, and fitted intothis perforation is a screw 108. A nut 109 encircles this screw and thescrew extends through an aperture 110 and is provided with a nut 111whereby it may be turned. By turning the nut 111 the degree of tensionof the spring 104 can be regulated at will.

A lever 112, serving as a trigger, is

mounted upon a pivot pin 113 and is provided with a pair of arms 114which engage the rear end of the slide 93. This slide is provided with aslot 115 (see Figs. 3 and 17) and is also provided with a notch 116. Aguard 117 is pivotally mounted within the slot 115 and is adapted tomove into such position as to practically close the notch 116. The slide93 is further provided with a stop pin 117 (see Fig. 17) against whichthe guard 117 may lodge, and when thus lodged (see Fig. 18) the guard117 projects in such manner as to close the notch 116, or at least torender it, for the time being, inoperative.

A pawl 118 (see Figs. 1, 17 and 18) is mounted upon a pin 119 and isprovided with a leaf spring 120. The slide 93 is adapted to movebodily'in relation to this pawl. The point of the pawl is shown at 121and is adapted, upon proper occasion, to enter the notch 116. This canonly occur,

however, when the guard 117 is swung backward, or in other words,occupies the position indicated in Fig. 1.

One position of the parts just described is shown in Fig. 17. The slide93 now occupies its uppermost position. \Vhen the trigger 112 is pulled,the arms 114 cause the slide 93 to travel downward. The point 121 clicksinto the notch 116 for a partial movement of the trigger. The parts maybe left in this position for any length of time (see Fig. 1).

The position shown in Fig. 2 may be considered as the normal position.Suppose, now, that the trigger 112 be pulled still further. The guard117 encounters the poi-nt1-21, and as the slide 93 travels downwardlythe guard necessarily swings to its upward limit until grounded by thepoint 1:21. As this point yields slightly according to the action of thespring 120, the guard 117 springs quickly below the point 121 so thatwhen the trigger 112 reaches the limit of its travel, the parts occupythe position indicated in Fig. 18. It, now, pressure of the hand uponthe trigger 112 be relaxed, the slide 93, acting in accordance withpressure of the spring 87, tends to move upward. The point 121 is nowunable to click into the notch 11 6 owing to the position of the guard117, as will be understood from Fig. 18. The net result is that in thisapparatus, as in an ordinary revolver, a partial pull of the triggerbrings the hammer into the position commonly designated as half-cocked,whereas a quick pull-of the trigger causes the hammer to be drawn backand released. In pulling the trigger back a little way (see Fig. 17) .sothat the point 121 lodges in the notch 11.6, the hammer 96 (see Figs. 5and (i) is drawn backward far enough to completely disengage the plunger\Vhen, however, the stroke of the trigger is complete, the hammer 96swings back until the tooth 95 passes clear of the tooth 103, therebyreleasing the hammer which strikes the plunger 36 and drives it endwise,compressing the spring 37. The cover or head 21 is provided with a hole123 through which tacks 122 are inserted into the magazine. This hole isin such position as to come into registry with each of the slots 56 insuccession as the :magazine is turned.

The operation of my device is as follows: The operator grasps themachine by the handle and places it nozzle downward, as indicated inFig. 2. He next grasps the arm 48 and presses it first to the left andthen to the right, according to this figure. Each time he does this, themagazine travels one step and brings a difl'erent slot 56 successivelyinto register with the hole 123. He drops through the hole the membersto be driven, in this particular instance we will say the tacks 122. Aseparate tack is dropped in after each complete movement of the arm 18.In this way the magazine is filled. Now, in order to drive the tacks,the arm 48 is given a complete double movement back to its startingpoint. The ope 'ator then pulls the trigger 112 back to its limit andreleases it, allowing it to return to its extreme forward position. Thedouble movement of the arm 18 causes several distinct operations to takeplace. First, by moving the dislodger slide 65. the hook 6 pulls thetack radially in *ard toward the center of the magazine 54 and causesthe release of the tack, as will be understood from Figs. 6 and 12. Thetack glides downwardly and lodges in the lower end of the nozzle, aswill be understood from Fig. 6. The cage, comprising bars 38 andfastcnings at the ends thereof. is moved in a lateral direction (seeFigs. and G) by the arm 45 which is controlled directly by the arm 18 aswill be understood from Fig. 14:. The

movement of the dislodger and the move ment of the cage are thus causedby a single movement of the arm 18. As above explained, this swingingmovement of the arm i8 moves the slide 79 (see Fig. 10) and turns themagazine one step. Suppose, now, that the tack has been dislodged, asindicated in Fig. '6, and that the arm 48 has been allowed to turn toits normal position. This leads the cage to the left, according to Fig.5, so that the plunger 36 moves out over the tack now lodged in thenozzle. The operator next pulls the trigger to its limit, the resultbeing that the hammer 96 is raised and released, striking the plunger 36and driving the tack. If it should happen that the tack is nowcompletely driven, the operator merely gives a second pull of thetrigger. This does not move the magazine, and conscquently does notdislodge any other tack, but simply allows the plunger to strike thesame tack a second time. The operator, by pulling the trigger any numberof times in succession, without moving the arm 48, can cause the plungerto strike a tack a corresponding number ot times. As the machine is mostcommonly used, for instance, in tacking down a arpet. the operatormerely directs the muzzle to the point where. he wishes to drive a tack,and then moves the arm 48 one complete double stroke and pulls thetrigger. l'le repeats this simple cycle of operations for each tackdriven.

lYhile for convenience and simplicity I show merely one term of thedevice, I do not limit myself to this particular construction. 'hile inthis instance the movements of the arm 18 and ot the trigger areentirely independent of each other, I do not wish because of this factto so limit my construction as to prohibit the use of these parts inother relations as desired, the scope of my invention being commensuratewith my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a revoluble magazine provided with teeth separatedby slots and adapted to support fastening members to be driven, adislodger movable. bodily in relation to said magazine for the purposeof dislodging said fastening members in succession, a plunger fordriving said fastening members, and means for moving said plunger out ofand into alinement with said fastening members.

2. The combination of a casing provided with a chute, a cage mountedwithin said chute, a plunger slidably mounted within said cage, meansfor moving said cage so as to move said plunger into and'out of saidchute, and means for dropping into said chute in succession thefastening members to be driven. a

3. The combination of a chute, a cage movable bodily in relationthereto, a plunger carried by said cage and movable relatively to thesame, means for actuating said plunger for the purpose of driving themembers to be driven, and mechanism for dropping said members one at atime into said chute.

4. The combination of a chute, a cage mounted therein and movablerelatively thereto, a plunger carried by said cage, means controllableat will for actuating said cage for the purpose of moving said plungerinto and out of position relatively to said chute, and meanscontrollable at will for moving said plunger relatively to said cagewhen said cage occupies a predetermined position relatively to saidchute.

5. The combination of a casing, a magazine revolubly mounted therein, aslide provided with a member for turning said magazine step by step, aspring to prevent retrovgression of said magazine after each move mentthereof, a slide provided with a hook and movable relatively to saidmagazine for the purpose of dislodging therefrom the fastening membersto be driven, a cage disposed adjacent to said slide, a plunger slidablymounted within said cage and movable bodily therewith, said plungerbeing connected with said hook, means controllable at will for shiftingthe position of said cage and said plunger relatively to the fasteningmembers to be driven, and means controllable at will for actuating saidplunger so as to strike said fastening members.

6. The combination of a revoluble magazine for supporting fasteningmembers to be driven, a dislodger movable bodily in relation to saidmagazine for the purpose of dislodging said fastening members therefrom,a plunger for driving said fastening members, and mechanism co-actingwith said dislodger for moving said plunger out of and into alinementwith said fastening members.

' 7 The combination of a revoluble magazine for supporting fasteningmembers to be driven, a dislodger mounted to slide relatively to saidmagazine for the purpose of displacing said fastening members heldthereby, a plunger for driving said fastening members, said plungerbeing mounted to slide, and means for moving said plunger out of andinto alinement with said fastening members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID ALLEN SAWYERS.

Witnesses C. W. TAYLOR, E. M. PHILLIPS.

